Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

We've flown through the first nine weeks of the 2016 fantasy football season. Are you sick of it all yet? We're guessing not—unless, of course, you're one of those who has already stumbled your way out of playoff contention.

(But that Adrian Peterson, Todd Gurley, Allen Robinson stack looked great on draft day!)

If your team is still chugging along and you're still having fun, then you're no doubt already looking ahead to Week 10. That's good, because the week kicks off in just a couple of days when the Baltimore Ravens host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

With a few days left to prepare for the coming slate of games, now is the perfect time to run down your top roster options. We'll go over our projected positional rankings and examine some risers and fallers at each of the skill positions.

All projected rankings are based on points-per-reception scoring.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	@ TEN
2	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	DAL
3	Jay Cutler, CHI	@ TB
4	Carson Palmer, ARI	SF
5	Cam Newton, CAR	KC
6	Philip Rivers, MIA	@ SD
7	Tom Brady, NE	SEA
8	Dak Prescott, DAL	@ PIT
9	Drew Brees, NO	DEN
10	Matt Ryan, ATL	@ PHI

Up: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

A lot has probably been said about Jay Cutler's ability to lead the Chicago Bears over the past couple of years, but the fact is his return two weeks ago helped provide the team with an offensive spark—and a win against the Minnesota Vikings.

Cutler wasn't a fantasy revelation in his return (252 yards and a touchdown), but he played efficiently and helped return wideout Alshon Jeffery to fantasy relevance.

"He was talking about giving relentless effort," Jeffery said of a pregame speech made by Cutler, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. "He said to give it everything you got and play for each other."

If Cutler can bring the same kind of fire and efficiency out of the team's bye week and into this week's matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he could be in for a big day. The Buccaneers are rated just 27th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Down: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Something strange has happened to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles. The third-year player has gone from looking like a rising star to looking like a lost puppy under center.

Bortles isn't seeing the field well, and he is turning the ball over way too often. He is completing less than 60 percent of his passes and has committed 12 turnovers to go with 14 passing touchdowns.

While Bortles can still gather some fantasy points in garbage time, he isn't consistent enough to start against upper-tier defenses. Last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, he produced just 252 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Bortles will likely put up similar numbers (or worse) against a Houston Texans team that is rated 11th in pass rush and sixth in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. There are better options this week if you're in need of a quarterback.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	David Johnson, ARI	SF
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	DAL
3	Melvin Gordon, SD	MIA
4	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	@ PIT
5	Devontae Booker, DEN	@ NO
6	Lamar Miller, HOU	@ JAX
7	DeMarco Murray, TEN	GB
8	Matt Forte, NYJ	LA
9	Jay Ajayi, MIA	@ SD
10	Terrance West, BAL	CLE
11	Devonta Freeman, ATL	@ PHI
12	Jordan Howard, CHI	@ TB
13	Darren Sproles, PHI	ATL
14	Todd Gurley, LA	@ NYJ
15	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	KC
16	Charcandrick West, KC	@ CAR
17	Duke Johnson, CLE	@ BAL
18	Ty Montgomery, GB	@ TEN
19	James White, NE	SEA
20	Rashad Jennings, NYG	CIN
21	LeGarrette Blount, NE	SEA
22	Giovani Bernard, CIN	@ NYG
23	Mark Ingram, NO	DEN
24	Kapri Bibbs, DEN	@ NO
25	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	@ BAL

Up: David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

We're going to assume that you have no interest in benching Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson this week. Even when he has a tough time running the football, as he did two weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers, Johnson finds a way to provide fantasy production.

Johnson rushed for just 24 yards against the Panthers, but he caught seven passes for 84 more.

We're pointing out Johnson because of the incredible matchup he has this week against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are giving up a league-worst average of 193 rushing yards per game.

Last week, New Orleans backs Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower combined for 245 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Since Johnson is the centerpiece of Arizona's rushing attack, he could be in store for a nearly historic day.

Down: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

OK, so we're not actually down on Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry as a player. We just want to point out that he isn't likely to be a viable fantasy option for the foreseeable future. He suffered a calf injury and could potentially miss the next few weeks.

This is a real problem for fantasy owners looking to make a push at the postseason. Sitting on Henry for the next few weeks might not be the best idea if you are on the verge of contention and could use the roster spot for a more valuable player. Henry has been little more than injury insurance for DeMarco Murray most of the season, though he did have a 60-yard, one-touchdown game in Week 8.

If you're in a deeper league or can afford to stash Henry until the playoffs, however, he might be worth holding onto. Given Murray's heavy workload—he has 209 offensive touches already—Henry could start seeing more work once he returns.

There's risk and reward with keeping Henry through the injury, and most of it boils down to your roster and your standing in the fantasy playoff race.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Mike Evans, TB	CHI
2	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	CIN
3	Julio Jones, ATL	@ PHI
4	Antonio Brown, PIT	DAL
5	Jarvis Landry, MIA	@ SD
6	A.J. Green, CIN	@ NYG
7	Jordy Nelson, GB	@ TEN
8	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	@ TB
9	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	SF
10	Dez Bryant, DAL	@ PIT
11	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	@ NO
12	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	LA
13	Terrelle Pryor, CLE	@ BAL
14	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	@ NO
15	Julian Edelman, NE	SEA
16	Steve Smith, BAL	CLE
17	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	@ JAX
18	Jordan Matthews, PHI	ATL
19	Stefon Diggs, MIN	@ WAS
20	Brandin Cooks, NO	DEN
21	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	KC
22	Michael Thomas, NO	DEN
23	Doug Baldwin, SEA	@ NE
24	Davante Adams, GB	@ TEN
25	Kenny Britt, LA	@ NYJ

Up: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers don't have a ton of offensive weapons right now—running back Doug Martin has yet to return, and wideout Vincent Jackson is on injured reserve—but they have a legitimate star in wide receiver Mike Evans.

The towering pass-catcher has already hauled in 55 receptions for 745 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He's an absolute beast in any fantasy format but a true PPR star.

There is some risk with Evan this week, as he remains in the league's concussion protocol. However, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times pointed out, he has returned to practice:

Given the Buccaneers played last Thursday and are coming off a long week of rest, we'd expect Evans to play. We'd also expect him to put up big numbers against a Bears secondary that is rated just 16th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Down: Cameron Meredith, Chicago Bears

Bears wideout Cameron Meredith became an overnight fantasy star back in Week 5 when then-quarterback Brian Hoyer seemingly figured out what kind of weapon he can be. Between Weeks 5 and 6, Meredith racked up 20 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown.

Meredith hasn't been nearly as valuable since Hoyer left the starting lineup with a broken arm, however. He has only produced two catches for 36 yards over the past two games, and it doesn't seem like Cutler has the same kind of confidence in Meredith that Hoyer did.

According to Pro Football Focus, Meredith has been targeted only three times in the past two games.

Meredith has a favorable matchup this week against the Buccaneers, but that means little if he isn't going to be a significant part of the game plan.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Jordan Reed, WAS	MIN
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	SEA
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	KC
4	Jimmy Graham, SEA	@ NE
5	Zach Miller, CHI	@ TB
6	Travis Kelce, KC	@ CAR
7	Tyler Eifert, CIN	@ NYG
8	Antonio Gates, SD	MIA
9	Martellus Bennett, NE	SEA
10	Dennis Pitta, BAL	CLE
11	Delanie Walker, TEN	GB
12	Gary Barnidge, CLE	@ BAL

Up: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert made the Pro Bowl last season, but unfortunately, he was injured during the all-star exhibition. He ended up requiring ankle surgery and missed a large chunk of the 2016 season because of it.

Eifert returned to the field in Week 7 on a limited basis, however, and returned to full action in Week 8. Against the Washington Redskins in London, Eifert racked up nine receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Eifert is a clear must-start at the tight end position now that he is healthy. He doesn't have the best matchup this week—the New York Giants are rated second in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus—but Eifert has too much talent to sit.

Down: Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James was a nice streaming option earlier in the season and a good replacement if you were waiting on a guy like Eifert or Rob Gronkowski to return to action. James scored three touchdowns in the first five weeks of the season, and he had three games of three or more receptions over that span.

James hasn't been a significant piece of the passing game since Week 5, however. He has two receptions in each of his past three games and has failed to top 20 yards in each of them.

James might surprise and reach the end zone this week, but he simply isn't consistent enough to warrant a start right now. If you're looking for a bye-week fill-in, look elsewhere.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Dan Bailey, DAL	@ PIT
2	Josh Lambo, SD	MIA
3	Justin Tucker, BAL	CLE
4	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	SEA
5	Caleb Sturgis, PHI	ATL
6	Matt Bryant, ATL	@ PHI
7	Cairo Santos, KC	@ CAR
8	Nick Novak, HOU	@ JAX
9	Graham Gano, CAR	KC
10	Wil Lutz, NO	DEN

Defense/Special Teams 

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Arizona Cardinals	SF
2	Los Angeles Rams	@ NYJ
3	New York Jets	LA
4	Baltimore Ravens	CLE
5	Washington Redskins	MIN
6	Houston Texans	@ JAX
7	San Diego Chargers	MIA
8	Minnesota Vikings	@ WAS
9	Kansas City Chiefs	@ CAR
10	Carolina Panthers	KC